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Patented Jan. 3, I899.

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\VILLIAM PEARCE, OF SOUTIIINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO- TIIIRDS TO M. N. VVOODRUFF AND N. A. BARNES, OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,181, dated January 3, 1899.

' Application filed November 17, 1898- Serial No. 696,677. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM PEARCE, of Southington, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Thill-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a side view of a thill-coupling embodying my invention in connection with a shackle of usual construction; Fig. 2, an under side view of the same; Fig. 3, a sectional view on the line a Z) of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the arm member of the coupling.

This invention relates to an improvement in thill-couplings, and particularly to that class in which the eye is formed in two parts hinged together, whereby the eye may be opened for the engagement with or disengagement from a bolt or bar carried by the shackle;and the invention particularly relates to the means for connecting one part of the eye member to the other part, whereby the eye is clamped upon the bolt. 7

The object of the invention is to permit the ready engagement or disengagement of the parts, and yet securely lock the two parts together; and it consists in the construction as hereinafter described,and particularly recited in the claims.

The shank A of the eye is of usual construction and adapted to be secured to the inner end of a shaft B in the usual manner. The outer face of the shank is'cut away, forming a shoulder a, and at its inner end is formed with a segment C of the usual eye and with two knuckles D. The other member comprises an arm E, bifurcated to form fingers F G and formed with a segmental portion I-l,which,with the portion 0, completes the eye. Beyond downwardly beveled surface h, which cuts into the inner end of the notch f. At the opposite side of the notch I preferably form a shoulder 'i, the object of which will hereinafter appear. The inner edge of the finger G} is cut away to form an inclined surface j, which cuts into the inner side and end of the .notch g, and the outer end of the finger G preferably rises to form astop 7c. The shankA has a centrally-arranged threaded opening I) for the reception of ascrew d, which screw is provided with a wide head L, the lower edge of which is preferably rounded. The shackle maybe of any preferred construction, and, as herein shown, comprises a clip M, adapted to pass over the axle N, and is formed with outwardly-projecting arms 0 0, between which the eye closely fits and through which extends a bolt P in the usual manner. The hole of the eye of the coupling may be of the same diameter as the bolt P, or it may be of a larger diameter and the bolt surrounded by a packing Q, as shown in Fig. 3. The segments 0 and H are both cut on the same oircle, but together do not quite form a complete circle, so that when the parts are drawn together sufficient space is allowed to permit the segments to grip the bolt with more or less pressure.

lVith my improved coupling it is unnecessary to remove the bolt P, so that, if desired, a transverse barmay be formed integralwith the arms 0, such a construction being too apparent to require illustration; but if a bolt is used it is preferably formed square beneath its head and the arm in which it rests correspondingly squared, so that the bolt is held in the shackle against turning. To connect the shaft, the bolt is turned to the left, so that its head stands between the fingers F G, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, and so that the arm E may be turned from the shank A and be passed over the bolt P. The arm is then returned and the screw d again turned 5 to force the head L into the notches f g, and this turning is facilitated by the beveled surfaces h t, which permit the head to-force the outer ends of the fingers inward toward the shank until the head drops into the notches roo f g. WVhen the screw is in the notches f, the parts of the eye should tightly grip the bolt P, and in case it does not so tightly grip it or the parts become worn it is only necessary.

to turn the screw to permit the parts of the eye to separate and then turn the screw inward, perhaps one-half turn, to obtain the required tension. The object of the stops 2' 7c is to prevent turning the screw in the wrong direction, for if it should be turned to the right and so forced out of the notches f g it would be turned into the shank A, and so that when the arm is again placed into position for the engagement by the bolt it would be difficult to again turn the screw into its lockin g position. It is to be understood that the arm E has more or less spring, and the amount of spring may be regulated by lengthening or shortening the notch which bifurcates the arm. Couplings of this character are especially desirable where it is frequently necessary to remove the shafts from the shackle, and this construction permits this removal by simply giving the screw D a one-half turn, and as the coupling binds so tightly 011 the bolt no packing is required between the eye and the shackle to prevent rattling. The shoulder a on the shank A guards the ends of the fingers F G and so deflects dirt which might otherwise collect between the fingers and the shank. It will be understood from the foregoing that I am aware that two-part shackleeyes have been produced, and therefore do not wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, such as my invention; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A thill-coupling comprising a shank having a segmental portion at its inner end an arm also having a segmental portion which with the segmental portion of the shank forms an eye, said shank and arm hinged together, the outer end of said arm bifurcated, and its two fingers transversely notched, the outer end of one of the fingers beyond the notch inwardly and downwardly beveled, and a screw adapted to pass between the said fingers into the shank, and the head of said screw adapted to rest in the said notches, whereby the arm is locked to the shank, substantially as described.

2. A thill-couplin g comprising a shank having a segmental portion at its inner end an arm also having a segmental portion which with the segmental portion of the shank forms an eye, said shank and arm hinged together, the outer end of said arm bifurcated, and its two fingers transversely notched, the outer end of one of the fingers beyond the notch inwardly and downwardly beveled, the inner edge of the other finger having a beveled surface leading into the notch of that finger, and a screw adapted to pass between the said fingers into the shank, and the head of said screw adapted to rest in the said notches, whereby the arm is locked to the shank, substantially as described.

3. A thill-couplin g comprising a shank having a segmental portion at its inner end, an arm also having a segmental portion which with the segmental portion of the shank forms an eye, said shank and arm hinged together, the outer end of said arm bifurcated, and its two fingers transversely notched, the outer end of one of the fingers beyond the notch inwardly and downwardly beveled, and formed with a stop at the inner side of its notch, the inner edge of the other finger formed with a beveled surface leading into its notch, and with a stop at its outer end, and a screw adapted to pass between the said fingers into the shank, and the head of said screw'adapted to rest 'in the said notches, whereby the arm is locked to the shank, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM PEARCE.

IVitnesses:

AUGUSTINE M. LEwIs, GEORGE B. MosEELE. 

